Research and Writing

As an information professional and scholar, I developed several research interests and specializations. The two areas of focus throughout my career have been: 1) Library and Information Science (LIS) services to/with diverse communities and 2) Information Science education.

In the LIS fields, both librarianship and information science strive to ensure that the information professions are inclusive and that diversity is embraced and celebrated. There are, however, challenges to implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices with a Social Justice (SJ) perspective in LIS.

As an instructor who teaches undergraduate and graduate students in an iSchool, I get to work with many diverse students and colleagues. As a practitioner, I am also a witness for students and professionals who feel marginalized and/or discriminated. For that reason, my current research goal is to explore the experiences of LIS students who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous or People of Color) and their sense of belonging to the information field or to librarianship. Also, I am interested in identifying pedagogical practices that are inclusive and liberatory, and -as a result- promote SJ in Information Science and Librarianship. My long-term goal is to help break down barriers to LIS education for diverse populations, help diversify the library and information studies fields, and expose educational methods that contribute to social justice. 

Area 1: Library & Information Services to/with Diverse Communities

As an immigrant from a Latin American country, when I started my professional career in the U.S. as a librarian, I realized that I fell into a specific “category” (Latina librarian) and that my culture and language positioned me well to provide services to Latino communities. This realization led me to work with REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking.

Library services to Latino communities have similarities (and differences) with library services to other diverse groups, whether ethnic or racially diverse populations. In the U.S., the historical preponderance of library leaders of White, non-diverse background has led to a profession in which diverse groups have been traditionally marginalized. As a librarian of color, I saw first-hand instances of discrimination in our professional field. As a result, I want to study this phenomenon and conduct research on ways to combat the marginalization and discrimination of librarians of color, starting with LIS education.

My beginnings in researching diversity in LIS

With that goal in mind, before starting the Ph.D. program, I started conducting independent research and working with colleagues on these topics. In my career, I have published articles in journals and magazines, contributed to other publications, and presented sessions and lectures to colleagues. I have participated in two grant-related activities regarding these topics; I have worked in committees, and I have become active in work related to diverse or multicultural children’s literature.

Below are some examples of the grants, projects, and publications that I completed previously to enrolling in the doctorate program at Missouri University SISLT.

  • Grant/Project Director: Latino-Americans: 500 Years of History – Project type: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)/American Library Association (ALA) Grant-funded Library Program ($2500). State College of Florida Libraries.
  • Grant/Research Assistant-Editor: ACURIL XLI Annual Conference: The Role of Libraries and Archives in Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Research. Project type: Hosting the Conference at University of South Florida, School of Information. Investigators: Dr. Kathleen de la Peña McCook (Univ. of South Florida) / Dr. V. Gregory (Univ. of South Florida)
  • Project: American Library Association (ALA) Emerging Leader, “Noche de Cuentos”. Project type: Design of a website and repository for this family literacy initiative. Advisor: Lucia Gonzalez (REFORMA)
  • Research & Service: Multicultural Children’s Literature. As a Member, Chair, and Cultural Competence Consultant of the “Pura Belpré Award,” I researched and wrote articles in The Horn Book Magazine, was invited speaker in a panel, and presented in conferences. As a Member and Chair of the “Walter Dean Myers Award” I presented and attended the WNDB Children’s Literature Symposium.

My doctorate path:

The following graphic helps convey the topics of research I’m involved with. More details follow below it.

research-map-with-projectsDownload

While working in libraries and teaching as an adjunct instructor at the University of South Florida – School of Information (USF SI), I realized that I wanted to dedicate more time to my research on these topics, and I wanted to focus on LIS education.

For that reason, in 2022 I enrolled in the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies at MU (SISLT). In this program, besides honing my skills as a researcher, I seek to deepen my work in diversity and social justice in the information fields and in higher education.

I completed the training and I am certified by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for research with human subjects, for the 2022-2025 period.

As a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) in SISLT, I am fortunate to work with two faculty members whose expert research aligns with my interests, Dr. Denice Adkins and Dr. Hyerim Cho. The topics in which these faculty members are working presented me with opportunities to conduct research on literature, reader’s advisory, and multimedia formats (such as Webtoon and romance genre) and public library programs for children with disabilities and their families:

  • Research Project 1: Understanding the Reader Demographics of an Emerging Online Reading Platform, Webtoon.
    • Project type: Grant-funded research.
    • Investigators: Dr. Hyerim Cho (MU) / Dr. Denice Adkins (MU)
    • My work as GRA: Survey design, data collection, data analysis-quantitative, co-writing.
  • Research Project 2: Services for Children of All Abilities in Libraries: An Exploration
    • Project type: IMLS Grant-funded project (multi-year.)
    • Investigators: Dr. M. Cahill (Univ. of Kentucky) / Dr. B. S. Long (Emporia Univ.) / Dr. Denice Adkins (MU) / & others.
    • My work as GRA: Interviews/observations transcriptions, data analysis-qualitative, findings, co-writing, co-presenting.
  • Research Project 3: Romance Genre and Webtoon Readers
    • Project type: Romance Writers of America (RWA) Grant-funded research.
    • Investigators: Dr. Hyerim Cho (MU) / Dr. Denice Adkins (MU)
    • My work as GRA: Interviews design, collection and transcripts; data analysis (Nvivo), findings, co-writing, co-presenting.

By working in these projects, I acquired a lot of practical experience in research design, data collection, data analysis, and writing of findings. The expertise of Dr. Adkins and Dr. Cho have been instrumental in my acquisition of research methods skills, as well as getting experience in preparing manuscripts for publication; and I was able to co-present and attend conferences such as ALISE, AASL, and the iConference (virtually) in Spring 2024.

In addition, as part of coursework, I conducted my own research projects, learning about theoretical frameworks and research design, obtaining IRB approval, working on peer review, and submitting the findings to journals for possible publication. Dr. Jenny Bossaller has also advised me on conducting historical research, and she has provided me with opportunities to contribute scholarly work to other projects, such as a book on public librarianship, and an upcoming festchrift.

The following are projects that I conducted as the primary researcher (publication pending):

  • Research Project 4: Finding Community: Librarians of Latino American Heritage, Professional Associations, and Belonging – (IRB: 2098750 MU) – Case Study – Designed and conducted interviews, analysis (qualitative), findings, and writing.
  • Research Project 5: Leadership in Diverse Library Professional Associations and The Birth of the National Associations of Librarians of Color in the United States, 1970-1980. Designed and conducted oral histories/interviews, research on primary sources, analysis and findings, and writing of two separate papers:
    • Leadership in Professional Associations of Librarians of Color
    • Historical overview of. the creation of National Associations of Librarians of Color, 1970-1980.

Area 2. Education in Information Science

I have always worked in education, as a teacher, librarian, and instructor. My first career was as elementary education teacher, I was an academic librarian, and I became an adjunct instructor at the University of South Florida’s School of Information (USF SI). My interests in pedagogy go back to my formation in Latin America, where critical pedagogies such as that of Paulo Freire, Emilia Ferreiro, and others, and a constructivist framework were the standard for teacher education. I have also worked on topics of human rights, both in Argentina and in the U.S.

My beginnings researching in education

When I started teaching higher education here in the U.S., I discovered that not everyone was formed with the same theoretical backgrounds I was, and some pedagogical practices used in colleges and universities were, in some cases, very traditional. Since I was teaching online, asynchronous courses since 2015, I started my own explorations of using a more participatory approach, aligned with my pedagogical formation and principles.

I designed and later re-designed the LIS 5566 Multicultural Literature for Children course I was teaching several times, testing and developing a model that I called “from reflection to action.” As a result, the program director at USF SI suggested that I publish it, and I wrote a book chapter.

Because of my experience as information literacy/academic librarian, I got to test pedagogical practices in different modalities and formats. All of these experiences sparked my interest in instructional design and curriculum design, and I am interested in the impact of socio-cultural perspectives in the design of instruction.

Some work I did as a librarian related to assessment in the area of access services. I worked in the academic libraries consortium in Florida (FLVC) and I presented on instructional and assessment topics:

  • Conference Presentation: Academic Library Assessment: Strengthening the Collective. Long, A. K., Murray, J. L., Kinsley, K., & Race, T. Library Assessment Conference, 2020 (virtual.) My role: Co-designer of Tableau Dashboard for FLVC institutions (Florida college and university libraries)

My doctorate path:

Once I started the doctorate program at SISLT, I chose a minor in Educational Leadership and Policy (ELPA), which allowed me to take courses in curriculum design and pedagogy. These courses increased my knowledge, but more importantly, allowed me to practice design of different elements, including assignments, assessment, units, course syllabi, and programs.

In addition, for a course on Human Computer Interaction (HCI) ISLT9460, I worked with other PhD students on a research project related to mobile apps (such as the Canvas LMS app) in higher education.

  • Program Design (Certificate): Learner-Centered Program of Studies Design: Certificate in Diversity in LIS – Design of a graduate level certificate (4 courses). Included design of syllabi, curricular map, assessment plan, assignments, and evaluation. My role: Principal designer, as part of ELPA 9442 Curriculum Design and Policy in Higher Education.
  • Research Project 6: Students’ Self-Efficacy with Mobile Technology and Usage of the Learning Management System (LMS) Mobile Application. Heather Boyd, Wilson Castaño, & Alicia K. Long. – Mixed Methods Study. Fall 2022. My role: Co-investigator, as part of ISLT 9460 Human Computer Interaction course.

As part of the ELPA concentration, I am also taking the course Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in Higher Education with Dr. Williams, in the College of Education. This course contributes to my theoretical knowledge and it will be instrumental in my research on students’ sense of belonging. In preparation to conduct research for my dissertation, I am exploring sense of belonging in LIS students, as well as the use of critical pedagogies in LIS education and its impact on BIPOC students.

During the Spring 2024 semester, I will be working on these projects:

Research Project 7: Critical Pedagogies in LIS Education. A critical systematic Literature Review. Part of ISLT9411 Doctoral Seminar.

Research Project 8: Race, Gender, and Ethnicity in Higher Education (topic TBD). Part of ELPA 9440.

My latest work also includes research on human rights librarianship. I have a work-in-progress article related to this topic, and I am currently enrolled in a course at the University of Córdoba, Argentina, titled “Basta Biblioclastia: Lectura, acceso equitativo al conocimiento y Derechos Humanos. Resistencia y resiliencia contra la Biblioclastia.” (Reading, Equity in Access to Knowledge, and Human Rights. Resistance and resilience against Biblioclastia). I completed a workshop in 2021 regarding this topic, and in 2024 I will take a semester-long course.

Certificate for Basta Biblioclastia Workshop

List of Publications

Orcid iD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9931-375X

Google Scholar: Profile

*Peer reviewed

Book chapters:

  • *Long, A. K. (In press-2024). Youth Services. In J. Bossaller & D. Adkins, Introduction to Public Librarianship (4th ed.). ALA Editions.
  • *Long, A. K. (2021). Developing an impactful diverse literature course for future librarians: From reflection to action. In D. Hartsfield (Ed.), Teaching diverse youth literature to pre-service professionals, (25-43). IGI Global. 10.4018/978-1-7998-7375-4.ch002
  • *Long, A. K. (2017). Youth services in public libraries: History, core services, challenges, and opportunities. In J. Bossaller & K. de la P. McCook, Introduction to Public Librarianship (3rd. ed.). ALA Editions.
  • Long, A. K., & McCook, K. de la P. (2011). Youth Services. In K. de la P. McCook, Introduction to Public Librarianship (2nd. ed.) (241-281). Neal-Schuman.

Journal Articles:

Proceedings:

  • Long, A. K. (Ed.). (2011). ACURIL XLI: Proceedings from the Annual Conference: The role of libraries and archives in disaster preparedness, response, and research. Tampa, Fla: Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/si_facpub/505

Other Publications

Reviews:

  • Peer reviewer, Emerald Publications. (2022-2024). Confidential (blind) reviewer.
  • Reviewer, IMLS Laura Bush Grants for 21st Century Libraries. Dates confidential.
  • Children’s books reviewer, The Horn Book Magazine. (2017-2022). Reviews by Alicia K. Long.

*Peer Reviewed